South African human rights and environmental groups have urged the government to block Israeli-linked Navitas Petroleum from acquiring a stake in a major offshore oil block, citing concerns over the war in Gaza and environmental risks.
Navitas applied in May to acquire a 37.5 per cent stake in a block in the Orange Basin off South Africa’s west coast, according to media reports.
In a letter to Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe, the South African BDS Coalition and several environmental groups argued that approving the deal would contradict Pretoria’s position on Israel and the Palestinians.
The groups said granting Navitas access to a strategic South African resource could generate income benefiting Israeli investors and financial institutions.
Iqbal Jassat of the Johannesburg-based Media Review Network also urged the government to reject the company’s involvement.
“We deplore and oppose the Israeli-owned energy firm gaining a foothold in any part of South Africa's coastline,” Jassat told Anadolu, arguing that it conflicted with Pretoria’s stance over the war in Gaza.
South Africa has emerged as one of Israel’s strongest international critics over the Gaza war. In December 2023, Pretoria brought a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, accusing it of violating the Genocide Convention. Israel has rejected allegations that it is committing genocide.
Campaigners also argued that further offshore oil development would contribute to climate change and pose long-term risks to marine ecosystems and coastal communities.
The Orange Basin, stretching along the coasts of South Africa and neighbouring Namibia, has emerged as a major oil and gas exploration frontier following significant discoveries in recent years.
President Cyril Ramaphosa last month described it as “one of the world’s most promising new energy frontiers”.
The dispute also comes amid wider scrutiny of offshore exploration in South Africa. Last week, the Constitutional Court ruled that the British oil and gas company Shell could not continue exploration along the ecologically sensitive Wild Coast, following a years-long legal challenge by environmental groups and local communities concerned about the impact of seismic surveys.
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